Gransnet forums

News & politics

Armed police

(40 Posts)
whitewave Mon 29-May-17 18:23:01

Today in a Sussex Village there was a May Day Fair. Two armed police walked up and down the High Street.

I do wonder if that was entirely necessary.

whitewave Tue 30-May-17 12:25:10

Yes we are only about 10 miles from Shoreham, which is a reasonably affluent seaside/riverside town. Who'd have thunk!!!!

They are like wood worms -squirrel their way in without you really noticing.

It is difficult to know though. We have a house that was to let a while back - it has since been sold, but a Muslim family lived in it for a while. They had at least 6 children, and the young mums around here all tried to befriend the family by asking the children to parties, days in garden etc. But everyone was rebuffed and totally ignored if you smiled and said good morning. Would you be suspicious of such behaviour? They have since disappeared -overnight. The house was suddenly empty. I mean that in itself could simply mean that they hadn't paid their rent who k owns, but it does make it difficult - as they are neighbours with a little (well largish) family.

whitewave Tue 30-May-17 12:26:09

Oh that read wrong. We didn't have a house - there was a house locally I meant to say.

Anniebach Tue 30-May-17 12:26:12

Thank you Glammananna

Sheilasue Tue 30-May-17 12:48:40

Something that we have to expect now. We are at war with these terrorist and anything can happen even in a little village, seaside or city. Our police are there for our safety.

Legs55 Tue 30-May-17 13:46:00

Living in Devon, not far from Newton Abbot, a young man who had lived there (nice house) has just been jailed for trying to place a bomb on a tube train. A few years ago there was also a bomb that went off in the toilets of a fast food chain in Exeter.

I remember going to Northern Ireland just over 30 years ago to stay with friends. Armed Police on the streets came as a bit of a shock. I would feel safe seeing armed officers around.

TriciaF Tue 30-May-17 14:05:20

Sorry to keep harping on about France, but we've had our share too.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_terrorist_incidents_in_France
Last year, after the Nice attack, the policing of schools, festivals concerts etc was increased. Sometimes the Army replaced the police.
Near us, in a tiny market town, we have a country Music festival every July, and last year there were armed police checks on all vehicles moving round the area.
There are 2 branches of police here, one more for civilian jobs, and the other militarised (Gendarmerie.)

Brupen Tue 30-May-17 14:05:52

Oh I miss the well dressings! I really enjoyed them when I lived in Duffield.

inishowen Tue 30-May-17 14:25:05

Here in Northern Ireland all police officers are armed. You get used to it and don't notice the guns.

Coolgran65 Tue 30-May-17 14:34:35

Like Inishowen.... I don't remember a time when our police officers were not armed, including female officers. Checking under the car in the mornng etc.
The enemy unseen.

Elrel Tue 30-May-17 16:07:54

On Wednesday there were sniffer dogs around at Chelsea Flower Show, not smelling flowers I guess, no obvious police inside.
On Thursday there were several police, some armed on the concourse at Euston. I was surprised then reassured to see armed police, one male, one female, on my train. They were among the first to be deployed on trains from Euston and went through the train greeting passengers. There was an announcement that it was a training exercise, presumably to prevent panic. They were accompanied when they returned by a man with a heavy camera and a woman who told us she was a reporter for ITV.
On Friday and again today I wasn't at all surprised to see armed police in the hospital foyer, again I felt reassured. I guess it's going to be routine for a while.

Granof11 Tue 30-May-17 16:10:01

Yes Inishowen and Coolgran, police in N Ireland have always been armed, even before the Troubles. I still find it odd that here in England police are expected to put their lives on the line daily in facing all crime, not just terrorist related, without being armed.

Teddy123 Tue 30-May-17 19:32:08

I was delighted to see 4 armed police in Bournemouth this afternoon .....

W11girl Wed 31-May-17 11:23:53

Unfortunately entirely necessary, particularly as arrests have been made in sussex. The authorities are erring on the side of caution, nothing wrong with that.

Luckylegs9 Fri 02-Jun-17 07:59:06

Yes it is necessary, every day the a Police put their lives on the line for us. This is what the terrorists have done to us. Terrorists lives are cheap because of their heavenly reward, they will strike everywhere and anywhere.